296 A Level Playing Field: The Fight for Fair Taxation in UK Hairdressing with Toby Dicker

I know that the bulk of our listeners are not in the UK, but the changes happening to the UK hairdressing industry have been getting a lot of attention on social media, and as a result, I’ve had a lot of questions from hairdressers elsewhere.

So, in this week's episode, I talk with Toby Dicker, co-founder of the Salon Employers Association, to discuss the challenges facing the UK salon industry.

Following the recent march on Parliament by hairdressers protesting the unfair tax system, Toby provides a clear explanation of how VAT disproportionately impacts labour-intensive businesses like hair salons.

We explore the uneven playing field between employee-based salon businesses and self-employed models, and how this disparity threatens the future of training, apprenticeships, and business growth in our industry.

Toby shares insights from his work lobbying the government for change and the recent historic parliamentary debate on hairdressing. This conversation isn't just about numbers, it's about gaining respect for our profession and ensuring the continued creativity and excellence of British hairdressing.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[0:47] Introducing Toby Dicker and the Salon Employers Association

[4:03] Simple overview of the VAT tax system in the UK

[8:07] Explaining how the VAT system creates an uneven playing field

[11:36] Impact on recruitment and apprenticeships

[15:05] The disincentive to grow businesses due to the VAT threshold

[18:15] Possible solutions to level the playing field

[24:03] The concept of "disguised employment" explained

[31:50] How businesses avoid crossing the VAT threshold

[41:07] The historic parliamentary debate on hairdressing

[47:24] How salon owners can get involved in the campaign

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296 A Level Playing Field: The Fight for Fair Taxation in UK Hairdressing with Toby Dicker

About this Episode

Hosts & Guests

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